Tim McGraw’s Beautiful Cover of 'Rocky Mountain High'

Tim McGraw, clearly demonstrating his musical giftedness and bravery, sings a beautiful cover of John Denver’s ‘Rocky Mountain High,’ and it leaves listeners wanting more! The performance was filmed backstage at Red Rocks Amphitheatre while Tim and his band were on their 2015 Shotgun Rider Tour. It was September and nearly 18 years after John Denver’s October 1997 death following an accidental crash of his personal plane. He was 53 years old at the time.  

Born Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr., the folk singer, songwriter, composer, actor, producer, activist, and humanitarian adopted the stage name John Denver in tribute to the beauty of the state he’d come to know and love. And while the song received backlash from those who thought it encouraged drug use, John Denver claimed that was not the song’s message at all.

In response to the FCC’s decision to ban the song from several radio stations, John stated, “This was obviously done by people who had never seen or been to the Rocky Mountains. He also had never experienced the elation, celebration of life, or joy in living that one feels when he observes something as wondrous as the Perseid meteor shower on a moonless, cloudless night, when there are so many stars that you have a shadow from the starlight, and you are out camping with your friends, your best friends, and introducing them to one of nature’s most spectacular light shows for the first time.” 

The 1972 song became a huge hit, and the first two iconic and perfect lines were immediately recognized by people growing up in the 1970s. Here, Tim McGraw does a stunning job as he sings two of the inspirational verses and a few choruses.

Mr. McGraw slows the tempo down a bit as compared to John Denver’s version, and he hits a few notes differently. However, he holds the word “lullaby” for a bunch of beats, just as the original artist had. It is an incredible performance. Listeners agree!

User @SummerSun2468 wrote, “Wow, what an awesome job Tim. Wish more people would sing more of his songs. Thanks, Tim.”

User @grammysue2410 echoed those sentiments, saying, “Thank you for singing the best song ever by John Denver! I was fortunate to have attended 3 of his concerts before he left us way too soon. Someone needs to do more cover songs of Denver’s as he was one of the best folk ballad singers ever.”

John Denver found peace in Colorado’s stunning beauty, and his captivating lyrics of “Rocky Mountain High,” like many of his other songs, still communicate his deep appreciation for the state he called home!    

“They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works.” Psalms 145:5